synthesizer

This term carries a strong association with the futuristic, experimental sounds of the 1970s and 80s. It suggests a process of construction where sound is built from the ground up using oscillators and filters, rather than being recorded from a natural source. In modern contexts, the word often distinguishes between hardware units with physical knobs and software plugins. It implies a level of sonic manipulation and artifice that differs from the organic warmth of an acoustic instrument.